The original Michigan Earned Sick Time Act (ESTA), was set to go into effect on February 21, 2025. After months of objections from virtually every employer organization, the Legislature finally passed an amended ESTA very late on February 20, 2025, which the Governor signed into law on February 21, 2025. Attached is an outline highlighting in red the added, deleted and changed provisions under the amended ESTA. For most employers, the amended ESTA went into effect immediately on February 21, 2025, but employers are not required to post notice of the amended ESTA and related policies until March 23, 2025.
With the exception of the amended ESTA’s expanded application to union employees, and increased fines for violations, the changes are generally beneficial to most employers. Accordingly, the amended ESTA allows for more workable employer policies and, for most employers, fewer changes from previous policies. However, for those employers who painstakingly made changes to comply with the original ESTA over the past few months, making further changes now (which should be optional but beneficial for most employers) is frustrating.
Pease contact David Lawrence or Prerana Bacon if you have any questions or would like to discuss specific changes to your Company’s policies to ensure compliance with the least burden.